Vienna International Community - Other Top Players - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about other key people in Vienna's international community

Austria's Olympic Splendor in Paris 2024: A Balance Between Tradition and Surprises

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are history, and Austria can look back proudly on its sporting achievements. On Tuesday, the successful Olympic athletes were honored in the Vienna Hofburg by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.

August 18, 2024

Alpbach: Between Tradition and the Future - the European Forum Alpbach 2024

The European Forum Alpbach (EFA) celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2024. It once again attracted over 4,000 participants to the small Tyrolean mountain village, which became the center of European discourse for two weeks. Under the general theme of “Moment of Truth”, this year's forum focused on the groundbreaking decisions that Europe must make in the face of multiple crises, from climate catastrophes to political tensions.

August 18, 2024

Ukraine's Kursk Offensive Assessed by Colonel Markus Reisner: A Risky Strategy with Far-Reaching Consequences

The recent Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, assessed by Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces, represents a bold but risky strategy that could have a profound impact on the course of the conflict and the future geopolitical situation.

August 16, 2024

Current DSN Investigation: Terror Plans Lead to Cancellation of Taylor Swift Concerts in Vienna

The planned Taylor Swift concerts at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium were supposed to be a highlight of the summer, but a serious terror threat forced the authorities to cancel the events. A new report by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN) reveals the dramatic background to this decision, which is the result of a series of frightening developments.

August 15, 2024

Austria Investing in the Future: Strengthening STEM Education and Massive Research Funding

Austria is setting standards in the education and research landscape to meet the challenges of the future. With two far-reaching initiatives, the government aims to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the STEM fields (mathematics, IT, natural sciences, and technology) as well as massively promote research and innovation in the country. These measures are intended not only to solve short-term problems but also to secure and strengthen Austria as a business location in the long term.

August 13, 2024

United Nations Finalize Convention Against Cybercrime with the Support of UNODC

After intensive negotiations and several years of work, the member states of the United Nations finalized a new international convention against cybercrime. This convention represents a historic step in the global fight against the growing threats in the digital space.

August 12, 2024

Richard "Mörtel" Lugner: Vienna Mourns the Loss of a Dazzling Entrepreneur and Society Star

Richard Lugner, known as "Mörtel", has died at the age of 91 in his villa in Döbling. As one of Austria's best-known entrepreneurs, Lugner shaped the cityscape of Vienna and the Austrian commercial landscape for decades.

August 12, 2024

Taylor Swift Concerts in Vienna Canceled Due to Suspected Terrorism - What Fans Need to Know Now

The cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna has left many fans disappointed and perplexed. After two suspected terrorists were arrested who had possibly planned an attack on the upcoming concerts, the organizer Barracuda Music decided to cancel the events. Fans are now wondering what costs will be reimbursed and how to proceed.

August 8, 2024

Counter-Terrorism in Austria: Arrest of Two Terror Suspects and Cancellation of Taylor Swift Concerts in Vienna

In a worrying development, two people suspected of planning a terrorist attack on events in Vienna have been arrested. During a house search in Lower Austria, chemical substances were seized that were to be used for the attacks.

August 7, 2024

Wirecard Trial: Further Charges Against Former Management Board Members

Four years after Wirecard's spectacular bankruptcy, the Munich public prosecutor's office has brought charges against two further former members of the Management Board. The focus is on the former CFO, Alexander von Knoop, and Susanne Steidl, responsible for product development.

August 7, 2024

Austria Continues Cooperation with Serbia to Combat Illegal Migration

Vienna and Belgrade are intensifying their cooperation in the fight against illegal migration and organized crime. At a meeting in Serbia, the interior ministers of both countries emphasized the importance of joint border security measures.

August 6, 2024

Hopeful Peace Deal for Gangs in Gang Violence in Vienna

In recent weeks, Vienna's streets have been rocked by violent clashes between Syrian and Chechen youth gangs. These conflicts, which were initially perceived as ethnic tensions, have thrown the city into turmoil. But now there are signs of a surprising turnaround: Representatives of both communities have published a joint statement aimed at improving cooperation.

August 6, 2024

Winners of the Austrian Art Prize 2024 Revealed

Andrea Mayer, State Secretary for Art and Culture, today announced the winners of the Austrian Art Prize and the Hans Hollein Art Prize for Architecture 2024. The awards, endowed with 20,000 euros each, honor outstanding personalities in the Austrian art and culture scene.

August 5, 2024

Introduction of a National Day of Remembrance for Roma and Sinti

The Austrian federal government took a significant step towards recognizing and remembering the Roma and Sinti murdered under National Socialism. August 2 will now be officially introduced as a national day of remembrance to honor the victims of the Holocaust and preserve their memory.

August 4, 2024

Bank Merger in Carinthia and Burgenland: New Era for Anadi Bank and Bank Burgenland

Following the sale of Anadi Bank to the Grawe Banking Group last December, further details have now been announced. Bank Burgenland will take over 42,000 customers, ten branches, and an SME and real estate loan portfolio from Anadi Bank in September and will operate as Bank Burgenland Kärnten in the future.

August 4, 2024

AIRPOWER24: Europe's Largest Airshow Takes Off in Zeltweg

On September 6 and 7, 2024, AIRPOWER24, Europe's largest airshow, will take place at Hinterstoisser Air Base in Zeltweg, Styria. The event is accompanied by an extensive program and offers numerous highlights for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

August 4, 2024

European CSDP Offensive: Austrian Handbook Strengthens Security Cooperation in Vietnam

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Defense has published a handbook on the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) since 2009. Due to its success, Austria was asked to make this work available to Asian partner states to promote security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

August 4, 2024

New Silent Villas at Therme Laa: Luxury in the Weinviertel Region

Therme Laa an der Thaya, a well-known recreational destination in Lower Austria, reached a new milestone. With the ceremonial opening of the ten new “Silent Villas”, the thermal spa is expanding its offer with an exclusive retreat for adults. The ceremony was attended by numerous representatives from tourism, business, and politics, including Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who emphasized the importance of this expansion for the region.

July 31, 2024

International Headquarters Vienna: Economic Importance and Future Potential

A recently published study by the economic research institute WIFO on behalf of the Austrian Foreign Ministry illustrates the significant financial impact of international organizations in Austria.

July 31, 2024

Austrian Forum for Peace 2024: Insights and Outlook for a Peaceful Future

The Austrian Center for Peace (ACP) presented the results of the second Austrian Forum for Peace, which took place at Friedensburg Schlaining in early July.

July 29, 2024

Algeria, Slovakia and Austria Deepen Economic Relations

A working meeting was held at the Imperial Hotel Vienna, organized by the Algerian Embassy in Austria and Slovakia with the support of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC).

July 29, 2024

Salzburg Summit: Europe's Challenge in the Global Economy

The Salzburg Summit 2024 provided a platform for discussions on the pressing economic and political challenges facing Europe. One of the central debates revolved around the tense relationship with the major economic power China and the resulting impact on European competitiveness.

July 25, 2024

EU Rule of Law Report: Clear Criticism of Austria and Hungary

The EU Commission has sharply criticized the situation in Austria and Hungary in its latest Rule of Law Report 2024. The main focus is on political influence on the judiciary and a lack of transparency. The report, published annually since 2020, analyzes the state of the judiciary, media, and rule of law in the 27 EU member states and makes concrete recommendations for necessary reforms.

July 24, 2024

Austria Calls for a Reorientation of EU Policy Towards Syria

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is calling for a fundamental reorientation of EU policy towards Syria and is receiving support from seven of his EU colleagues from Italy, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

July 23, 2024

False Accusations Against Federal Police Chief Takacs in Wirecard Case Must Be Revoked by FPÖ

Austrian domestic politics recently experienced a considerable shake-up due to false accusations by the FPÖ, which claimed that Federal Police Director Michael Takacs had met with the fugitive ex-Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek on several occasions. These accusations led to legal action by Takacs, which resulted in a retraction and a cease-and-desist declaration by the FPÖ.

July 21, 2024

Vienna's Mayor Ludwig Reacts to Gang Violence in the City

In recent weeks, there has been a series of violent clashes between ethnic groups in Vienna, which have unsettled the population. The recent incident at Yppenplatz in Ottakring in particular, in which two men were seriously injured, has further exacerbated the situation. In response, Mayor Michael Ludwig has announced that the city's rapid reaction force will be increased in terms of personnel, while at the same time demanding comprehensive measures from the federal government.

July 21, 2024

Simpsons Cartoon Art: Unique Exhibition at the Caricature Museum Krems

To mark the 35th anniversary of the cult series “The Simpsons”, the Caricature Museum Krems is the first in Europe to present a special exhibition entitled “Here comes Bart! Simpsons Cartoon Art from the William Heeter and Kristi Correa Collection”.

July 16, 2024

Austria Among the World Leaders in Organic Viticulture

Austria is continuing its successful course in environmentally conscious viticulture and for the first time has more than 10,000 hectares of certified organic vineyards. The 10,432 hectares now correspond to around 24% of the country's total vineyard area, making Austria one of the global leaders in organic viticulture.

July 15, 2024

North Korean Agents in Vienna: A Network of Espionage and Currency Procurement

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is not only known for its high quality of life and cultural diversity but also conceals a network of espionage and illegal activities that extends to North Korea. New revelations shed light on the covert operations of the Kim regime, which cleverly uses its presence in Vienna to procure foreign currency and gather knowledge for nuclear armament.

July 11, 2024

Austria's Challenges and Successes in the OECD Report

The OECD has presented its latest country report for Austria. Every two years or so, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development analyses each member country as a whole and summarizes the findings of this analysis in a comprehensive report. Austrian policymakers have now taken up this report and are hotly debating it.

July 9, 2024

Reorganization Proceedings of Signa Prime Selection Fail in Court for the Time Being

In a significant decision, the Vienna Higher Regional Court (OLG) upheld the appeal of the Finanzprokuratur against the trustee restructuring plan of Signa Prime Selection AG. The reorganization plan previously confirmed by the Commercial Court of Vienna was thus annulled.

July 8, 2024

Vienna Stock Exchange Reaches New All-Time High in First Half of 2024

The Vienna Stock Exchange recorded a remarkable upward trend in the first half of 2024, taking the ATX Total Return (including dividends) to a new all-time high. The leading national index surpassed its previous high of February 9, 2022 (8,251.98 points) several times and reached its most recent record of 8,566.58 points on May 21, 2024.

July 4, 2024

Economic Outlook in Austria: High Inflation and Stagnation Until 2026

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) has published a comprehensive analysis of economic development and inflation forecasts for Austria, covering the years 2024 to 2028. The study shows that Austria will continue to struggle with high inflation until mid-2026 before the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of two percent is reached. At the same time, the economy will not see a slight recovery until 2025.

July 1, 2024

Kuwaiti Ambassador Talal Alfassam Visits Salzburg: Deepening Bilateral Relations and Investment Opportunities

The Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) organized the visit of H.E. Talal Alfassam, the Ambassador of Kuwait to Austria, to Salzburg.

June 30, 2024

Vienna Once Again Named the World's Most Liveable City

Vienna has done it again: for the third time in a row, the Austrian capital has been named the most liveable city in the world by the British "Economist" group. In the annual "Global Liveability Ranking", Vienna beat 172 other cities to take the top spot once again.

June 27, 2024

Leopold Museum Presents New Exhibition "German Expressionism"

The Leopold Museum in Vienna is opening a new focus exhibition entitled "German Expressionism". This exhibition brings together works by important artists such as Alexej von Jawlensky, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paula Modersohn-Becker, and Gabriele Münter and places them in an imaginary dialog with Austrian Expressionists.

June 26, 2024

Schwarzenegger's Climate Conference in Vienna: "Austrian World Summit" Calls for Concrete Measures

The "Austrian World Summit" (AWS) took place in Vienna for the eighth time. Host Arnold Schwarzenegger and several prominent guests emphasized the urgency of concrete climate protection measures. Around 700 international visitors, including high-ranking politicians and experts, gathered in the Vienna Hofburg to discuss the future of a clean energy supply and the fight against climate change.

June 20, 2024

Europa-Forum Wachau 2024: A Commitment to the Future of Europe

This year's Wachau European Forum, which traditionally takes place in Göttweig and Krems, opened with the title "Rebooting Europe". The forum focused on key topics such as innovation, research, and health to make Europe fit for the future.

June 20, 2024

Signa Group Stabilizes After Insolvency: Former CFO Retires

Following the collapse of the real estate group Signa, the former CFO Manuel Pirolt sees the company stabilized and announces his resignation.

June 20, 2024

25 Years "Partnership for Peace Consortium": Anniversary Celebration and Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding

NATO Headquarters in Brussels hosted an important celebration on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes (PfPC). At the invitation of the German Minister of Defense, high-ranking representatives of the "Stakeholder Nations" came together to pay tribute to the successes and future goals of the consortium.

June 20, 2024

Moscow Announces Enhanced Revision of its Nuclear Doctrine

Russia's nuclear doctrine, particularly concerning its large arsenal of non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNW), has become one of the most pressing issues in Euro-Atlantic security. Russia is planning to revise its nuclear doctrine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced. This decision is of course being made against the backdrop of the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the reactions of the West.

June 18, 2024

30 Years of the WKÖ Export Prize: Austrian Companies Honored for Top Performance

Austria's export industry has achieved impressive successes over the last 30 years. EU accession in 1994 played a key role in this, paving the way for a more than five-fold increase in goods exports. Despite challenging framework conditions, the 63,700 domestic export companies achieved a record value of 200 billion euros in goods exports and 83 billion euros in services exports last year.

June 18, 2024

Austria's Common Tones in Times of War and Conflict

Five musicians with Israeli, Arab, and Persian roots from Daniel Barenboim's West Eastern Divan Orchestra performed at Palais Niederösterreich, under the auspices of Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, highlighting the unifying power of music amid global crises and conflicts.

June 17, 2024

30 Years of the EU Referendum: A Success Story for Austria

On June 12, 1994, a groundbreaking referendum was held in Austria, in which two-thirds of the population voted in favor of joining the European Union. This decision laid the foundations for a new era of economic, political, and social integration of Austria in Europe. Since its official accession on January 1, 1995, the country has changed considerably and has since benefited from EU membership in many ways.

June 12, 2024

Russia Expels ORF Correspondent Maria Knips-Witting

In a surprising diplomatic escalation, Russia has withdrawn the accreditation of ORF correspondent Maria Knips-Witting and ordered her to leave the country as quickly as possible. This measure was described by the Russian side as a “forced measure” and explained as a reaction to the withdrawal of the accreditations of two Russian journalists from the state news agency TASS in Austria. Knips-Witting has been reporting from Moscow since January 2024.

June 11, 2024

Shift to the Right in the EU and its Impact on Austria and Europe

The recent EU parliamentary elections have shown a clear shift to the right across Europe, particularly in Austria, where the FPÖ celebrated historic successes. These results put the political stability and future direction of the EU to the test.

June 10, 2024

Austria Promotes Key Projects for Renewable Energies in Central Asia

High-ranking representatives from Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as well as private investors are gathering in Vienna at the invitation of the World Bank to hold the International Energy Investment Forum. The event is being held in cooperation with the government of the Kyrgyz Republic and other international financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

June 10, 2024

Shield 24: Largest Austrian Armed Forces Exercise in a Decade

From June 10 to 21, 2024, the Austrian Armed Forces will be conducting the most comprehensive military exercise of the last ten years. Around 7,500 soldiers and civilian staff will take part in “Schutzschild 24”, supported by international forces from Germany, Sweden, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

June 9, 2024

Unrestricted Access to the Labor Market for Ukrainian Refugees in Austria Decided

Ukrainians who have fled the war should be able to participate in the Austrian labor market permanently and without restrictions. The Social Affairs Committee of the National Council today pushed the extension of the “Red-White-Red Card Plus” towards a final decision in plenary. The governing parties ÖVP and Greens, as well as the NEOS, voted in favor, while initiatives by the NEOS and FPÖ on immigration were postponed.

June 6, 2024

UN in Vienna to Get Monumental Mural to Promote Sustainable Development

An impressive art project will enrich the skyline of Vienna when a giant mural is created on one of the towers of the Vienna International Center (VIC). In collaboration with the Calle Libre Street Art Festival and the UN family in Vienna, the artwork aims to highlight the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shaping our common future.

June 5, 2024